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So I saw that movie "darkest hour" last week. Really good movie, but it gave me a lot more sympathy for the appeasers, Halifax and Chamberlain. Its easy in hindsight to say that Churchill was right, but at the time appeasement seemed like an honorable way to avoid another horrendous World War, and Churchill's track record up to that point was spotty.

So I saw that movie "darkest hour" last week. Really good movie, but it gave me a lot more sympathy for the appeasers, Halifax and Chamberlain. Its easy in hindsight to say that Churchill was right, but at the time appeasement seemed like an honorable way to avoid another horrendous World War, and Churchill's track record up to that point was spotty.

Doesn't really answer the question, but its a thought I had.

On the topic of Churchill. The book I just finished Dead Wake, left a bit of a sour taste about him after he laid all the blame of the sinking of the Lusitania on Capt. Turner. Turner was cleared in like three separate inquires and the blame placed entirely on the German U-boat torpedo.
There was also a lot of speculation that Churchill and or the admiralty, may have purposefully not sent a Naval escort or at least warning to the Lusitania and used the attack to seek political advantage (draw the US into the war). I’m not sure that holds water. What I do think odd is him placing the blame entirely on Capt. Turner.

Maybe she meant that the political actors involved Goose Stepped into a horrendous situation?

Her words certainly describe the lead up to WW1, and since WWII is seen by many as a follow up, I suppose its defensible. The sleep walk theme is strong in The Guns Of August. And allowing the ****'s to rearm has its sleepwalking aspect. It is strange and maybe offensive to be lectured by a German, but at some point in time we have to forgive the descendants. its been 72 years since it was over.

As to her warnings about the present, its hard to see the sides going at it, since the results would be catastrophic, but they might have thought the same in 1913.

Her words certainly describe the lead up to WW1, and since WWII is seen by many as a follow up, I suppose its defensible. The sleep walk theme is strong in The Guns Of August. And allowing the ****'s to rearm has its sleepwalking aspect. It is strange and maybe offensive to be lectured by a German, but at some point in time we have to forgive the descendants. its been 72 years since it was over.

As to her warnings about the present, its hard to see the sides going at it, since the results would be catastrophic, but they might have thought the same in 1913.

Yea, the Guns of August gave me the impression of a bunch of elitist aristocrats trying to out aristocrat each other.
I’m not sure however that any nation sleepwalks into a WW though. There’s an aggressor and there’s a defender.

As to her warnings about the present, its hard to see the sides going at it, since the results would be catastrophic, but they might have thought the same in 1913.

I don't think so. In 1913, the great powers were getting closer and closer to war, whereas the great powers now are further and further from it. Imagine France and Germany fighting a war now. You can't.

I don't think so. In 1913, the great powers were getting closer and closer to war, whereas the great powers now are further and further from it. Imagine France and Germany fighting a war now. You can't.

Her words certainly describe the lead up to WW1, and since WWII is seen by many as a follow up, I suppose its defensible. The sleep walk theme is strong in The Guns Of August. And allowing the ****'s to rearm has its sleepwalking aspect. It is strange and maybe offensive to be lectured by a German, but at some point in time we have to forgive the descendants. its been 72 years since it was over.

As to her warnings about the present, its hard to see the sides going at it, since the results would be catastrophic, but they might have thought the same in 1913.

This.

The assassination of the Austrian crown prince in Sarajevo set in motion an escalating chain of events that could have and should have been nipped in the bud.